John Spytek says what should give every Raiders fan some optimism about a new situation that’s so up in the air
The Las Vegas Raiders are ready to see what they have in potential star cornerback Jermod McCoy, and they have a plan.
The Las Vegas Raiders took a huge risk in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, this risk could play out perfectly for the Raiders.
There is a world where the Silver and Black get an elite, star cornerback, and they drafted him in the fourth round. Jermod McCoy has first-round talent. Some would say he has top-ten talent. But his injury history and mystery dropped him to the fourth. Even still, Vegas couldn’t pass up on him; it actually moved up one spot to get him.
Regardless of the injury and mystery surrounding it, Vegas was beyond confident in the pick, and that alone should make the fan base feel good about the pick. And if it doesn’t, general manager John Spytek seems to feel very good about it himself.
Jermod McCoy’s stats in 2024 at Tennessee
(Didn’t play in 2025)
- 9 Pass Deflections (7 year before)
- 44 tackles (.5 TFL)
- 4 Interceptions (2 year before at Oregon State)
John Spytek talks confidence in drafting Jermod McCoy
“Well, we traded up one spot,” Spytek said. “We were staring at a player on our board that was way above everybody else, and this wasn’t a Friday-night decision nor a week-of-the-draft decision either. You know, we have a wonderful medical team here, with doctors Alex Guerrero and Chris Cortez, who spend countless hours poring over every prospect. And so this was a very well-vetted, thoughtful process that we had talked about at length for weeks or even months before—obviously, since the Combine…
“We were comfortable with him at that point, bringing Jermod McCoy in, obviously. So we gave up a 7th-round pick next year, eliminating any mystery or possibility that could come up at the last second to cost us a player we really valued and were thrilled to get. Jermod—he’s a highly talented kid, but he’s a good kid. He’s a thoughtful worker and works hard.”
If you’re a Raiders fan, that has to make you feel at least a bit better about the whole situation. But, at the same time, he was drafted in the fourth for a reason. If the Raiders felt so confident, why didn’t they take him earlier? Well, they are confident in their process with their doctors, but that doesn’t mean they have equal confidence that it will work long term.
Not to mention, if the Raiders know no one else is taking McCoy in the first three rounds, why would they? Regardless, they got an elite player in the fourth round. Now, Vegas just has to hope he pans out. It won’t be about what he can do on the field, but instead about whether he can get on it and stay on it.
